Seeking people's honest answer on this question

[ponyboy]

JJ's offense is really not just one: the run and shoot. It is so configurable, so adjustable. One evidence of that are the back to back 1000 yard rushers. You use the personnel you have: that's the brilliance of his system. And it works -- most NFL teams run a variation of it.

[George S. Patton]

I'll take a TE drag rout or a TE seam rout over some wide receiver screen any day of the week.

But that's just me.

[Stallion]

`TCU's program was at least challeging for the BCS and definitely Top 25 very shortly after Franchione arrived. Here's the reason - quite frankly Franchione recruited much better than Jones from the 1-11 record each school had when each coach started. Different schools-different conditions. I understand but both started at 1-11. Then again June Jones' reputation was much greater than Franchione when they started at SMU and TCU respectively. It maybe true that it took 10 years for Franchione/Patterson to get to a BCS Championship but it took them relatively no time at all to get Championships, Bowl Games and Top 25 rankings.

[ponyboy]

Quicker than 31 months?

[George S. Patton]

Didn't SMU technically share the 2009 CUSA Western Division championship with Houston? I

[Stallion]

Quicker than 31 months?

Yes, Franchione won the WAC in his 2nd and 3rd years and TCU has of course won several since-looks like their 6th this year

TCU was Top 25 three years after Franchione's arrival and has been 8 times since(including this year)

TCU went to a bowl in Franchione's first year and this year will make 11 out of 12

[ponyboy]

Didn't remember that. Wow.

So DF was able to get his new recruits onto the field in less than 31 months of his arriving and crack the top 25 and win championships with them? Or did he have more to start with?

[Charleston Pony]

when discussing TCU and Franchione's immediate success, let's be sure to give some credit to Pat Sullivan who as I recall recruited better than he coached. Coach Fran had some talent to work with when he arrived, although he admittedly stepped it up from there...and Patterson just kept building that program

[rich59]

Franchione not only took TCU to a bowl his first year but they beat USC in the Sun Bowl. He also lost to SMU and Mike Cavan that year. Based on what happened later, I have to believe that Gary Patterson had a lot to do with Franchione's success just like Chris Peterson must have had a lot to do with Dan Hawkin's success at Boise State.

[rich59]

I had seen the game where New Mexico with Franchione coaching at home beat SMU handily somewhere around 1997-8. I was very impressed with how hard their defense played and with their offense. They were in a "shotgun" formation with a QB named Leigh who was a good runner and adequate passer and they ran the option out of that formation. When Fran got to TCU that first year he used a kid who was a wide receiver but had played QB in high school. The young man could not throw a lick but was a very good runner. I think his name was Dupree or something like that. That night in New Mexico was the first time I ever saw what is now called the spread option, I think.

[rich59]

In an article in the DMN, this morning, Carlton attempts to explain what is wrong with the TU Longhorns. He compares this year's team and record with 2009's. When I read it, it reminded me a lot of SMU. Only difference is that they may have played a tougher schedule and they have many years of great recruiting with all four and five star players. Food for thought!